Merchandise display unit

ABSTRACT

A merchandise display unit including a clamp for holding the rearward edge of an article such as a card table, the clamp being on a hinge fastened to a supporting member, whereby the forward edge of the table may be raised to display the underside, to illustrate how to fold the legs, and other features of the particular article of merchandise displayed, the rearward edge of the article being securely held by the clamp hinged to the supporting member to permit hinged upward and downward movement of the merchandise being displayed.

United States Patent 1,145,52l 7/1915 Stock 1. 16/158 1,354,390 9/1920Gilmore 24/263 UX 3,235,093 2/1966 Eisbart et a1 211/47 FOREIGN PATENTS846,442 8/1952 Germany 248/226 Primary Examiner-J. Franklin FossAuomeyErnest S. Kettelson ABSTRACT: A merchandise display unit includinga clamp for holding the rearward edge of an article such as a cardtable, the clamp being on a hinge fastened to a supporting member,whereby the forward edge of the table may be raised to display theunderside, to illustrate how to fold the legs, and other features of theparticular article of merchandise displayed, the rearward edge of thearticle being securely held by the clamp hinged to the supporting memberto permit hinged upward and downward movement of the merchandise beingdisplayed.

PATENTED JUN22 \sn SHEET 3 OF 4 INVENTOR ELMER REIBOLD ATT'Y.

PATENTED JUN22 ian SHEET [1F 4 FIG. I2

FlG.ll

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INVENTOR ELMER L.REIBOLD BY 5?! W ATT Y FIG. l5

. MERCHANDISE DISPLAY UNIT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This inventionrelates to a merchandise display unit, including clamp means for holdingthe rearward edge of an article of merchandise, and hinge means joiningsaid clamp means to a supporting member such as the upright wall of astore fixture. The article of merchandise may then be moved on the hingewhich is preferably horizontal to permit upward and downward hingedmovement of the merchandise. This invention is particularly useful fordisplaying merchandise such as card tables to prospective customers.Prior to this invention, a salesman would have to lift the entire cardtable in his hands to show customers the underside and would have adifficult time trying to illustrate how the legs of the card table maybe folded and the unfolded back to upright position. If an edge of thetable were left to rest on the floor while demonstrating these featuresthe to the customers, the edge would soon become worn and the tableunusable for sale. It also would become unsightly for further displaypurposes. By clamping near the edge of the article such as a card tablehorizontally hinged to a support member, it becomes very simple for asalesman to raise the forward edge to display the underside, how thelegs are folded and unfolded and pther features of the merchandise beingshown and demonstrated to customers, and without causing any damage tothe article being displayed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A merchandise display unit which includes clampmeans for holding the rearward edge of an article of merchandise, andhinge means joining said clamp means to a supporting member such as theupright wall of a store fixture to permit upward and downward hingedmovement of said article of merchandise.

It is an object of this invention to provide clamp means hinged to asupporting member to enable easy and convenient display of an article ofmerchandise held within said clamp means.

It is a further object of this invention to provide clamp means hingedto a supporting member to enable upward and downward hinged movement ofan article of merchandise held within said clamp means.

It is a further object of this invention to provide clamp means whichare adjustable to clamp and hold the edges of various articles ofmerchandise having edges of different dimensions and configuration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of themerchandise display unit of this invention, showing part of a card tablepartially in section clamped therein, and showing the unit fastened toan upright support member of a store fixture.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of this invention with the clamp blockremoved.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of this invention with the clamp block removed.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of one form of clamp block used in thisinvention.

FIG. Sis a top plan view of the clamp block shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the clamp block shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the clamp block taken on line 7-7 of FIG.6.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 843 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is an elevation view from the rear showing the hinge plate ofthisinvention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a store fixture with which thisinvention may be used.-

FIG. 11 is a bottom pla'ii view of a modified form of clamp block foruse in this inventibii.

FIG. 12 is a front elevation view of the clamp block shown in FIG. 1 l.

FIG. 13 is a side elevation view ofa modified form of this invention.

FIG. 14 is a side elevation view of the modification shown in FIG. 13but with the lower hinged plate in position for clamping.

FIG. 15 is a side elevation view of a further modification of a clampblock which may be used in this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings indetail, the clamp means of this invention includes a top plate 1, theunderside of which has soft material coating 2 such as felt to preventscratching or other damage to the top surface 3 of an article ofmerchandise such as a card table 4, partially shown in section in FIG.1, held within said clamp means. The top plate 1 extends outwardlyperpendicular to an integral with rear plate 5. Bottom plate 6 alsoextends outwardly perpendicular to and integral with rearplate 5 asshown in the embodiment of this invention illustrated best in FIGS. 1and 2,'so that top plate I and bottom plate 6 extend outwardly insubstantially parallel spaced apart relation.

A hinge 7 is affixed along the upper edge of rear plate 5, said hingeincluding the pivot pin 8 and hinge plate 9. Hinge plate 9 includes twoholes 10 through which fastening bolts 11 are inserted to pass alsothrough corresponding holes 12 in an upright support member 13 of astore fixture 14. Alternatively the hinge plate 9 could be secured to awall by means of screws, or molly bolts" or other well-known means.Hinge plate 9 is secured to the support member or wall in such a waythat it extends downward from the pivot pin 8 and faces the rear plate 5when the latter is in normal resting position.

A clamp block 15 is provided for insertion between top plate I andbottom plate 6. The clamp block 15 may be of any configuration anddimension desired to correspond with the edge of various articles ofmerchandise to be secured by said clamp block 15 when'it is forcedupward and rearward to hold said edge tightly between the clamp block15, the top plate 1 and the rear plate 5. The height of the clamp block15 must be somewhat less than the distance between top plate I andbottom plate 6 to permit insertion therebetween as well as someadjustment therebetween and to allow insertion of an article ofmerchandise between theclamp block 15 and top plate 1.

The clamp block 15 is held in clamping engagement by setscrews 16threaded through internally threaded holes 25 in bottom plate 6. Thesetscrews 16 may have flat bearing plates 17 at the top and hand graspmeans 18 at the bottom to permit turning by hand. The clamp block 15 mayinclude on its underside countersunk indentations 19 corresponding tothe flat bearing plates 17 of the setscrews 16 to permit insertion ofsaid bearing plates 17 into said countersunk indentations 19 when thesetscrews are tightened for proper placement of said clamp block 15 toachieve the clamping engagement desired with the edge of whateverarticle of merchandise is to be clamped within the merchandise displayunit of this invention. The location of the countersunk indentations 19is a matter of choice depending on the type of article to be clampedwithin the display unit, the only requirement being that thesecountersunk indentations 19 are located at the point on the underside ofclamp block 15 which will bring it into secure clamping engagement withthe edge of the article of merchandise to hold it securely within thedisplay unit of this invention when the setscrews 16 are tightened andtheir fiat bearing plates 17 are securely seated within said countersunkindentations.

The clamp block 15 may be of L-shaped design as shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 6and 7, and include a vertical abutment wall 20 and horizontal abutmentwalls 21 and 21. The horizontal portion 22 of the L-shaped clamp blockis inserted first along the upper surface of bottom plate 6 until itreaches rear plate 5 or until the countersunk indentations 19 on theunderside of the clamp block 15 are in alignment with the flat bearingplates 17 of the setscrews 16 for insertion therein when tightened. Thelocation of the countersunk indentations 19 of the clamp block 15 ofL-shaped design is chosen so when in alignment with the flat bearingplates 17 of setscrews 16 for tightening, the vertical abutment wall 20abuts securely against the inner downward extending portion 22 of theedge of an article of merchandise such as a card table 4 to be clampedwithin the display unit of this invention, and the outer downwardextending portion 23 of the edge of the card table 4 is forced securelyagainst rear plate 5, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The setscrews 16 aretightened forcing bearing plates 17 into the countersunk indentations l9and further forcing the clamp block [5 upward from bottom plate 6 untilhorizontal abutment wall 21 abuts securely against the bottom portion 24of the edge of card table 4, and horizontal abutment wall 21 abutssecurely against the underside of the surface portion of the card table,forcing the top surface 3 of said card table 4 upward for secureengagement against the felt or other soft material coating 2 bonded tothe underside of top plate 1. The edge of the card table 4 is thussecurely clamped within the display unit of this invention. The hingeplate 9 of said display unit having been previously mounted to anupright support member 13 in the manner described above, the card table4 having its rearward edge securely clamped within the display unit ofthis invention, may now be moved upward in rotation around the hinge 7for display of the underside of the table, to illustrate how the legs ofthe table may be folded and unfolded, and other features of the articleof merchandise. The hinge plate 9 should be mounted on upright supportmember 13 at the location where top plate 1 is substantially horizontalwhen the clamped card table 4 with its legs unfolded and extended areresting evenly on the floor or other base surface. It would be possiblehowever to mount the hinge plate 9 at a higher point on the uprightsupport member 13, so the legs (if any) of an article of merchandiseclamped in the display device of this invention are above the floor. Therear plate 5 will abut against hinge plate 9 as top plate 1 movesdownward to approximately the horizontal.

A modified clamp block a is shown in FlGS. l1 and 112. Instead ofcountersunk indentations l9, clamp block 15a includes T channels 19arunning longitudinally with the legs of the T-opening on the undersideand ends of clamp block 150, and the crosses of the T-opening at eachend of the clamp block 15a. The T-channel in other words may run theentire length of clamp block 150:. The legs of the T-channels are wideenough to receive setscrews l6, and the crosses of the T-channels arewide enough to receive the flat bearing plates 17 of said setscrews. Theclamp block 15a is mounted on said flat bearing plates 17 by positioningthe crosses of the T-opening in an edge of clamp block 15a adjacent theflat bearing plates 17 which are then slidingly received within saidT-channels as the clamp block 15a is moved into position. This modifiedclamp block 15a permits forward and backward movement to adjust thevertical abutment wall a with respect to its spaced-apart distance fromrear plate 5, so as to receive edges of differing thicknesses of variousarticles to be clamped within the display unit of this invention. Thehorizontal abutment wall 21a and 21a is moved upward from bottom plate 6by tightening the setscrews 16 in the same manner as described abovewith respect to clamp block 115.

A modified form of the invention is shown in FlGS. 13 and 14, whereinbottom plate 6a is hinged rather than integrally formed with rear plate5 in the previously described embodiment. The edge of bottom plate 6awhich adjoins rear plate 5a of this modified form shown in FIGS. 13 and14 includes a hinge 7a with pivot pin 8a extending through the hingebore to hold said plates together. In this embodiment, the clamp blocksuch as the modified form 15a as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 can be leftpermanently mounted on bottom plate 6a. The set screws 16a threadedthrough bottom plate 6a can be turned so their bearing plates 17a movetoward bottom plate 6a, said bearing plates 17a being within the crossopenings of the T- channels in modified clamp block 1511, thus forcingclamp block 15a securely against bottom plate 6a to hold it thereon.Other well-known means can be selected to mount a clamp blockpermanently (or for only occasional removal) on bottom plate 6a, and doso in such a way that it may be adjusted backward and forward as well asupward and downward with respect to bottom plate 6a.

By having bottom plate 611 hingedly attached to rear plate 5a, it is notnecessary to remove the clamp block from the display device of thisinvention in order to clamp or unclamp the edge of an article ofmerchandise for display. The hinged bottom plate 6a need merely beallowed to drop from its horizontal engagement position to a verticalposition whereby the attached clamp block 15a also falls away from itsengaged position, thus enabling removal of a previously clamped articleof merchandise. In order to insert and clamp an article of merchandisein this modified form of the invention, the process is merely reversed.Bottom plate 6a with clamp block 15a is raised from the unengagedvertical position to the engaged horizontal position. The clamp block15a is then ad justed forwardly and rearwardly as previously describeduntil vertical abutment wall 20a engages a downward extending portion ofan edge of an article of merchandise, and is then ad justed upwardlyalso as previously described by turning setscrews 16a to forcehorizontal abutment wall 21a upward away from bottom plate 6a intoclamping engagement with an underside portion of an edge of said articleof merchandise.

Bottom plate 6a is held perpendicular to rear plate 5a by means of adiagonal brace 26, pivotally attached at one end 27 near the outwardedge 28 and on the underside of bottom plate 6a. The other end 28 ofsaid diagonal brace 26 is removably insertable into a receiving pocket29 mounted on a downward extension 30 of rear plate 5a. The location ofpocket 29 is such that when the diagonal brace 26 is inserted thereinbottom plate 6a is held substantially perpendicular to rear plate 5a.Other known means of holding hinged bottom plate 6a perpendicular torear plate 5a could of course be employed for this purpose.

A further modified clamp block 15b is illustrated in FIG. 15 consistingessentially of a square or rectangular block rather than of L-shapeddesign. In clamp block 15b the vertical abut ment wall 20b faces rearplate 5 when clamp block 15b is in- I serted between top plate 1 andbottom plate 6. The horizontal abutment wall 2llb in this modified clampblock 15b is the wall facing top plate 1 when clamp block 15b isinserted as aforesaid in the device. In other respects, clamp block 15bmay include countersunk indentations or a T-channel as in the previouslydescribed clamp blocks'llS and 15a, and may be adjusted in like mannerby means of setscrews 16 threaded through bottom plate 6 having flatbearing plates 17 to bear against the portion of clamp block 15b whichis closest to bottom plate 6. This modification of clamp block 15b ismost useful for articles of merchandise which either (1) have a verythin downwardly extending portion at their edge so the clamp block 15bmay be pushed almost entirely up to rear plate 5 in order to clampinglyengage said thin downwardly extending portion between vertical abutmentwall 20b and rear plate 5; or (2) which have no downwardly extendingportion at their edge whereupon clamp block 15b would be pushed entirelyup against rear plate 5 and clamp block 15b then moved by means of saidsetscrews 16 and bearing plates 17 towards top plate 1 until horizontalabutment wall 21b securely engages and clamps the surface edge of anarticle of merchandise between abutment wall 21b and the felt or othersoft material coating 2 bonded to the underside of top plate 1.

The top plate, rear plate, bottom plate, hinge and hinge plate arepreferably made of metal for greater strength, particularly for use withheavier types of merchandise. However, for display of lighter types ofmerchandise these parts may be made of suitable plastics such asstyrene. The clamp block is preferably made of wood but could likewisebe made of metal or plastics such as styrene. lf made of metal, theabutment walls which come in contact with articles of merchandiseclamped in the display device of this invention should preferably becoated or bonded with a soft material such as felt to prevent scratchmarkings. Such soft-material coatings may also be bonded to therespective abutment walls even though the clamp blocks are made of wood.

The particular forms of the invention described herein and illustratedin the accompanying drawings are preferred embodiments, and variouschanges in the size, shape, materials and arrangement of parts may bemade without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope ofthe attached claims.

Having thus set forth my invention, what I claim is:

l. A merchandise display unit, comprising clamp means for clamping theedge of an article of merchandise for display, said clamp meansincluding a first plate, a second plate extending outwardly from saidfirst plate normal thereto, a third plate extending outwardly from saidfirst plate normal thereto and in spaced-apart substantially parallelrelation to said second plate, a clamp block adapted forplacementbetween said second and third plates, a recess in said clampblock, said recess being positioned in said clamp block for mountingthereof a fixed distance with respect to said first plate to clamp andhold therebetween a downwardly extending portion of an edge of anarticle of merchandise, holding means including adjustable means tonarrow the space between said clamp block and one of said second andthird plates to clamp and hold the surface portion of an edge of saidarticle of merchandise between said clamp block and one of said secondand third plates, and hinge means associated with said clamp means formounting on a support member to enable hinged movement of said articleof merchandise for illustrating and demonstrating parts thereof.

2. A merchandise display unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein saidrecess in said clamp block is a countersunk cavity positioned apredetermined fixed distance from said first plate for clampingassociation therewith when said clamp block is mounted for engagementwith said holding means, and wherein said holding means includesareceivable member of peripheral configuration conforming to that of saidcountersunk cavity for snug reception therein to hold said clamp blockagainst movement toward and away from said first plate.

3. A merchandise display unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein saidclamp block is of L-shaped configuration having a horizontal leg and avertical leg, the front end of said horizontal leg being in closeproximity to said first plate when for bearing against the adjacent sideof the surface portion of an edge of said article of merchandise.

4. A merchandise display unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein saidrecess in said clamp block is a longitudinal slot extending normal tosaid first plate when said clamp block is mounted for clampingengagement, and wherein said holding means includes a receivablememberfor reception in said longitudinal slot to permit slidable movement ofsaid clamp block toward and away from said first plate, said receivablemember being associated with said adjustable means to vary the spacebetween said clamp block and said second and third plates, said clampblock thus being movable in longitudinal and latitudinal directions forclamping association with said first plate and with one of said secondand third plates.

5. A merchandise display unit comprising clamp means for clamping anedge of an article of merchandise for display, said clamp meansincluding a first plate, a second plate extending outwardly from saidfirst plate normal thereto, a third plate hingedly associated with saidfirst plate at a position spaced apart from said second plate andadapted to permit hinged movement of said'third plate between a positionwhere it is in substantially parallel relation to said second plate anda position away from said second plate until it is substantially normalto said second plate, a clamp block ad ustably mounted on said thirdplate, detachable means to hold said hinged third plate in fixedsubstantially parallel relation with said second plate bringing saidadjustably mounted clamp block on said hinged third plate into closeproximity to said second plate,

and adjustable holding means to position and hold said clamp block in adesired fixed position with relation to said first, second and thirdplates to clamp and hold between said plates and said clamp block anedge portion of an article of merchandise.

1. A merchandise display unit, comprising clamp means for clamping theedge of an article of merchandise for display, said clamp meansincluding a first plate, a second plate extending outwardly from saidfirst plate normal thereto, a third plate extending outwardly from saidfirst plate normal thereto and in spaced-apart substantially parallelrelation to said second plate, a clamp block adapted for placementbetween said second and third plates, a recess in said clamp block, saidrecess being positioned in said clamp block for mounting thereof a fixeddistance with respect to said first plate to clamp and hold therebetweena downwardly extending portion of an edge of an article of merchandise,holding means including adjustable means to narrow the space betweensaid clamp block and one of said second and third plates to clamp andhold the surface portion of an edge of said article of merchandisebetween said clamp block and one of said second and third plates, andhinge means associated with said clamp means for mounting on a supportmember to enable hinged movement of said article of merchandise forillustrating and demonstrating parts thereof.
 2. A merchandise displayunit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said recess in said clamp block isa countersunk cavity positioned a predetermined fixed distance from saidfirst plate for clamping association therewith when said clamp block ismounted for engagement with said holding means, and wherein said holdingmeans includes a receivable member of peripheral configurationconforming to that of said countersunk cavity for snug reception thereinto hold said clamp block against movement toward and away from saidfirst plAte.
 3. A merchandise display unit as set forth in claim 1,wherein said clamp block is of L-shaped configuration having ahorizontal leg and a vertical leg, the front end of said horizontal legbeing in close proximity to said first plate when mounted for clampingengagement, a first clamping surface provided by the top face of saidhorizontal leg for bearing against the bottom of said downwardlyextending portion of an edge of an article of merchandise, a secondclamping surface provided by the front face of said vertical leg forbearing against the adjacent side of said downwardly extending portionof an edge of an article of merchandise, and a third clamping surfaceprovided by the top face of said vertical leg for bearing against theadjacent side of the surface portion of an edge of said article ofmerchandise.
 4. A merchandise display unit as set forth in claim 1,wherein said recess in said clamp block is a longitudinal slot extendingnormal to said first plate when said clamp block is mounted for clampingengagement, and wherein said holding means includes a receivable memberfor reception in said longitudinal slot to permit slidable movement ofsaid clamp block toward and away from said first plate, said receivablemember being associated with said adjustable means to vary the spacebetween said clamp block and said second and third plates, said clampblock thus being movable in longitudinal and latitudinal directions forclamping association with said first plate and with one of said secondand third plates.
 5. A merchandise display unit comprising clamp meansfor clamping an edge of an article of merchandise for display, saidclamp means including a first plate, a second plate extending outwardlyfrom said first plate normal thereto, a third plate hingedly associatedwith said first plate at a position spaced apart from said second plateand adapted to permit hinged movement of said third plate between aposition where it is in substantially parallel relation to said secondplate and a position away from said second plate until it issubstantially normal to said second plate, a clamp block adjustablymounted on said third plate, detachable means to hold said hinged thirdplate in fixed substantially parallel relation with said second platebringing said adjustably mounted clamp block on said hinged third plateinto close proximity to said second plate, and adjustable holding meansto position and hold said clamp block in a desired fixed position withrelation to said first, second and third plates to clamp and holdbetween said plates and said clamp block an edge portion of an articleof merchandise.